Two men appear in court over human trafficking

Two men have appeared in court, charged with a series of human trafficking and forced labour offences after 20 suspected victims were rescued by police.

Ioan Lacatus, 31, with an address on Hanover Street and Samuil Covaci, 23, with an address on Charles Street both in Portadown face 12 courts of human trafficking, 12 counts of forced labour and one count of acting as an unlicensed gang master.

Mr Lacatus, a father of three young children, faces an additional charge of concealing criminal property.